diff --git a/openmc/mgxs/mdgxs.py b/openmc/mgxs/mdgxs.py
index 57cc955ba2..dcf9832eaa 100644
--- a/openmc/mgxs/mdgxs.py
+++ b/openmc/mgxs/mdgxs.py
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ class MDGXS(MGXS):
         # energy groups such that data is from fast to thermal
         if self.domain_type == 'mesh':
             mesh_str = f'mesh {self.domain.id}'
-            mesh_cols = [(mesh_str, label) for label in self.domain._axis_labels]
+            mesh_cols = [(mesh_str, label) for label in self.domain.axis_labels]
             df.sort_values(by=mesh_cols + columns, inplace=True)
         else:
             df.sort_values(by=[self.domain_type] + columns, inplace=True)
diff --git a/openmc/mgxs/mgxs.py b/openmc/mgxs/mgxs.py
index 4c13c75087..7f0200c097 100644
--- a/openmc/mgxs/mgxs.py
+++ b/openmc/mgxs/mgxs.py
@@ -2134,7 +2134,7 @@ class MGXS:
         # energy groups such that data is from fast to thermal
         if self.domain_type == 'mesh':
             mesh_str = f'mesh {self.domain.id}'
-            mesh_cols = [(mesh_str, label) for label in self.domain._axis_labels]
+            mesh_cols = [(mesh_str, label) for label in self.domain.axis_labels]
             df.sort_values(by=mesh_cols + columns, inplace=True)
         else:
             df.sort_values(by=[self.domain_type] + columns, inplace=True)